Lesson 9 | Takeaways: discerning the key teaching points
Look for the commands
Commands are the first sort of takeaway we are likely to find within a passage of Scripture. What does the author tell his readers to do or not do? Though commands are typically easy to identify, there are several issues to consider in bringing biblical commands into the contemporary world.
1. Not every passage will contain an explicit command.
The first imperative in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians does not come until Eph 2:11, “remember…” And the next one does not come until chapter four! Does that mean there is nothing to obey in the first three chapters of Ephesians save one command to remember our former separation from God? There are two layers to the answer.
First, it is indeed very typical for Scripture to provide a massive weight of truth as a foundation for its commands. So do not be in a rush to find the commands as though these are the only takeaways. (We will explore this in greater detail in the next few lesson steps.)
Second, there may very well be specific points of obedience even though there is not an explicit command. Here are three examples from Eph 1-3:
In Eph 1:3-14, Paul overflows in a beautiful and rich expression of praise, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…” What follows is a detailed exposition of the many blessings God has lavished on us. One appropriate response to this passage would be to join with Paul in praising God for his manifold grace, taking time to delight in every facet of our great salvation.
In Eph 2:11-22, where Paul exhorts us to remember that we were once alienated from God, there is at least one strongly implied command. Because God’s work of reconciling us to himself has also vitally reconciled us to other believers, we need to live out that reconciliation no matter the walls that once separated us. Here then is a truth that has significant implications for how we should behave within the body of Christ.
A third example will round out the point. In Eph 3:14-21, Paul states the substance of his prayer for the Ephesian believers. I trust it is not hard to see how you might appropriate a prayer like this into your own life. Some of the sweetest times of congregational prayer we have had in our church is when we have prayed over a fellow believer using a specific prayer like this one and personalizing it with their name and circumstances.
2. We need to carefully discern how, or in what manner, any particular command does apply to us.
We can define two basic categories: direct and indirect application.
Direct application is when our obedience will look essentially the same as the original readers.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! —Psalms 34:8-9 ESV
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. —Galatians 5:13 ESV
Indirect application is when we seek to discern a principle from the command that is translatable to our context.
Such is the case when the biblical command is so rooted in the immediate circumstances of the original author/recipients that it is impossible to apply directly. For example, consider Paul’s letter to Philemon. In its entirety, it addresses a very particular personal situation between Paul, his dear friend Philemon, and a runaway slave, Onesimus. Nevertheless, we can see how the gospel so deeply shapes Paul’s appeal that we may well work out several principles that can apply to contemporary dilemmas.
Let’s move on to the biggest category of commands calling for indirect application. Because there is both continuity and discontinuity between the old and new covenants, we must wisely discern indirect principles when it would be biblically inappropriate to apply an Old Testament command directly. In such cases we may rightly find in God’s commands to Israel and in their varied responses to those commands many encouragements for our life of faith. As Jason DeRouchie writes,
Far from setting aside the OT, Jesus stressed that he came to fulfill it, and in the process he highlighted the lasting relevance of the OT’s teaching for Christians: Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. 5:17–19) It’s important to note here that, while the age of the old covenant has come to an end (Rom. 6:14–15; 1 Cor. 9:20–21; Gal. 5:18; cf. Luke 16:16), the OT itself maintains lasting relevance for us in the way it displays the character of God (e.g., Rom. 7:12), points to the excellencies of Christ, and portrays for us the scope of love in all its facets (Matt. 22:37–40).
10 Reasons the Old Testament Is Important for Christiansby Jason DeRouchie
This article helpfully unpacks the lasting value of the Old Testament for believers today.
3. We must recognize what Scripture identifies as the most important part of pursuing obedience to God’s commands, namely, obedience that springs from faith and hope and love for God.
As Jesus often said, a pharisee can obey every sort of command down to the minutia—tithing, Sabbath, purity, etc—and yet have no love for God or for his neighbor. He thus stands under the judgment of God. Rather, the one who loves God delights to do his will. In other words, do not turn the gospel of grace on its head, pursuing obedience in order to gain God’s favor. Rather, receive the gift of God’s favor in Christ Jesus and respond to his grace in love-filled obedience.
A great help in doing this is found in looking beyond the raw commands of Scripture. That is, look for the commands in a passage of Scripture, and then press in deeper, looking for the means, motivations, and anchors.